Honoring Legacy Through Design

As we close out Black History Month — a time to honor legacy, elevate achievement, and reaffirm our responsibility to advance equity through our work — VANOMA proudly recognizes the work of Zachary Robinson, one of our original and most enthusiastic members, whose early career contributions already demonstrate a strong commitment to design excellence and cultural memory.

Zach (right) with a project team member at the Martin Luther King Jr. and Hampton Heroes Memorial Plaza.

Zach was a key member of the design team for the Martin Luther King Jr. and Hampton Heroes Memorial Plaza, in Hampton, Virginia, where Zach served as an Urban Designer with WPA, collaborating with WPL on the landscape design.

As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Zach carries forward a legacy of architects and leaders, like Vertner Woodson Tandy, who used design to serve communities. That tradition runs deep at VANOMA itself—our founding president, Ken Martin, and second president, Joel Mieses, were also Alphas—reflecting a longstanding connection between leadership, service, and building spaces that matter. Zach’s work on the plaza embodies that same commitment.

The plaza honors the civil rights leader and the men and women who devoted their lives to building bridges and advancing social justice and equal rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Hampton Heroes Memorial Plaza

Through the use of weathered steel—symbolizing the strength and resilience of those who have faced oppression—the monument stands as both a space of remembrance and a call to action. Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the monument is re-dedicated to honor local heroes whose lives embody that enduring commitment.

Zach earned his Master’s degree from Hampton University, a historic HBCU whose legacy continues to shape generations of designers and changemakers. His work on this project reflects how emerging professionals can meaningfully honor the legacy of Dr. King while helping to shape spaces that inspire progress.

At VANOMA, we believe it is essential to recognize and uplift our members—not only for where they are, but for the purpose already evident in their work. Zachary Robinson’s trajectory reminds us that legacy-building begins early, and that thoughtful design remains one of our most powerful tools for storytelling, justice, and community memory.